Cultivator



' beam, and provided with an arm, which exlating the depth to which the plows operate, it

can be readily detached from this piece and changed to the top piece, A.

The plow-beams E of each gang are secured together near their ends, and form practically one beam. They are coupled to the piece D by means of the clevis-like devices E. Attached to each gang, and preferably pivoted between the beams of the separate plows, as shown, is a runner, E2, which extends down between the plows, and. is adapted to support them free froln the ground when it is desired to do so, as will be presently described. A spring, E3, is secured to the top of the plowbeam, and extends back over the end of the runner E2, thus holding this end down and the other end up free from the ground when it is not in use. A notch, e, is formed in the end of the runner E2, (see Fig. 4,) in which the end of the spring E3 engages when said runner is pressed down in position to support the plows, and thus holds it in this position until the spring is raised up out of the notch,when said runner may again be lifted up until its end is under the end of the spring, which operates to hold said end down, as before described. I have shown a lever, e', as a means for raising the spring E out of the notch; but any other desired means may be employed when preferred. It is pivoted to the plowtends under the spring. A cord or wire, e3, extends back to the plow-handle from the top of this lever, by means of which the operator can more readily operate the spring.

By the use of this device the work of the operator is much lessened, as, when turning around the ends of the eld or driving in other places where it is not desired to drag the plows, he can simply drop these runners until the end of the spring engages in thenotch e, when they will be below the level with the points of the plows, and thus support them free from the ground without any manual labor. L

In Figs. 5 and 6 an alternate construction of this supporting device is shown, which may be used instead of the one just described when desired. The ruimer El is provided with a slot, et, in its upper end, through which the pivot-bolt passes. In the opposite corner is inserted a pin, e5, which extends out on either side, so that its ends rest on the tops of the plow-beams. -A sliding rod, Et, is pivoted to this runner underneath the beam, and extends forward through a guide, E5. Between this guide and a'shoulder formed near the end, where it is pivoted, it is provided with aspring, e6, which operates to throw the runner up from the ground. Said rod is also provided near its outer end with a notch, e7, with which a downwardly-projecting catch, es, on the spring engages.

The device is operated as follows: Its parts being in the position shown, and it being desired to raise the pl ows, the runners are pressed down, which pushes forward the rod E* until the notch e7 passes under the catch es, when it engages therewith and holds Ithe runner in the desired position. When -it is desired to again let the plows down, the spring E3 is raised, which disengages the catch and allows the spring e to throw back the rod E1L and raise the runner E2, and permits the plows to fall. In some cases this construction may be desired; but for general use I regard the one before described as preferable on account of its cheapness and simplicity.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a wheel-cultivator, the combination, with the wheel-spindle having a bracket, B, at its inner end pivoted on the axle, of a draftrod journaled on said spindle and secured to said bracket, substantially as described, and for the purposes specified. l

2. In a wheel-cultivator, the combination, with the wheel-spindle B, provided with a bracket, B', and adapted to be hinged to the end of the axle, of the draft-rod C, journaled on said spindle and adj ustably secured to said bracket, whereby the draft-rod may have Vertical adjustment on said spindle and bracket, substantially as set. forth.

3. The combination of the bracket B', having in its front end the slot b and on its rear end the lip b', the wheel-spindle B, the draftrod C, adjustable on said spindle and `bracket, and the hinged axle A, substantially as shown and described.

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4. The combination, in a wheel-cultivator,

of the axle A, the horizontal portions of which are in two parts, the-link-shaped extensionpieces D, adapted to be adjustably secured to either of saidparts, thewheel-spindle B, hinged thereto, andthe draft-rod C, adj ustably mounted on said spindle, substantially as described, and for the purposes specified.

5. In a wheel-cultivator, the combination, with the plow-beam E, of the runner El, pivoted thereto at its front end, and provided with a notch, e, and the spring E3, secured to said plow-beam Vand .running back over the end of said runner when itis in a raised position, and engaging with the notch e when it is in a lowered position, substantially as, described, and for the purposes specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 29th day of October, A. D. 1883.

MARION' XV. MOCANN. [L. S]

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